For this to be the final straw?

[CalliopeMeansMusic]

Like so many others, I’ve been seriously struggling with lockdown; I have bad generalised and social anxiety, and the endless rules/requirements/changing info has resulted in me heading into shops as little as possible. Every shop has its own rules which seem to change everytime you go in, there’s a headache-inducing one way system, and power mad staff who yell at you for stepping out of line.

Yesterday I hit my final straw. I was filling up the car with petrol at a major supermarket, and upon heading to the kiosk to pay there was a sign on the door saying “Two customers at a time.” Fair enough, it was hard to see through the window so I sort of peered through the glass and waited. A guy came out and held the door for me, so I thanked him and headed in, assuming he was the second of two people. Inside the kiosk was one customer waiting to pay, making me the second. Despite this, a staff member lurking next to the counter barked at me to “Get outside now! There’s a sign on the door!” A little confusing, as the sign clearly said two customers at a time.

When the guy inside left the shop, it was empty inside so I headed in. I didn’t notice the elaborate arrows showing a one way system, so was halfway to the counter before the woman behind it yelled “Follow the arrows!” Bear in mind there were NO other customers in the shop, and to follow the arrows I had to squeeze past a third staff member restocking the fridge, as opposed to walking three steps across a totally empty space to reach the till.


AIBU to think the world has gone completely barmy, and that people are now setting rules for the sake of setting rules? Sorry this turned into an essay, but everyone hits their limit and I honestly think that this was mine 🤦🏻‍♀️

[Curiosity101]

I agree that on your case it sounds like you were initially following the rules and that not following the one way system did make more sense but, imagine how difficult it must be if you've been working in a shop through the whole pandemic?

It's stressful enough just living through it, nevermind having to expose yourself day in day out for minimum wage. You don't consider you'll ever be 'front line' of anything working in a shop do you?

And for every 1 person like you there will be a bunch of entirely unreasonable, rude and aggressive people who think they can break the rules and actively put people at risk.

Overall I definitely do agree with you, but I try to remind myself that everyone is under a lot of pressure so I'm trying to be more tolerant / let things slide if at all possible.

[longwayoff]

Stop it. You're not as special as you think you are, at least not to those poor staff who deal with people like you all day, all week, putting themselves at risk of infection.It's very simple. Do as you're asked to do.

[AnnaBanana333]

The staff are scared, and tone is subjective. You know that shops are setting up one-way systems so you should look for them as soon as you enter.

[EmperorCovidula]

Why didn’t you just mimic their tone of voice and respond ‘yes, it says two customers at a time.’ ‘Don’t be absurd’ and so on? You’d already filled your car up. It’s not like they were going to turn you away. Might as well take the opportunity to have a bit of fun.

[relievedlady]

I've had this a few times in petrol stations op.

Had one women stood at the door directing people to wait as it was a max of two in at a time.
No problem,I stood 2 mtrs back at the sign placed by said member of staff.

A customer came out and she ushered me in. As I got to the door she kind of barked about the two metre distance included staff

Feeling confused I said was aware of that but seeing as she was stood less than a meter away from the door how did she expect us to actually get in to pay. And in I went.

The guy behind the counter apologised on her behalf and said that's all he's spent all morning doing

[AnneBullen]

It also engenders a sort of weird sheeple behaviour though doesn’t it. Why didn’t you say “no, it’s much quicker for me to do walk straight across to you” and do it whilst you were saying it. Instead we are all
meekly doing things because we are told to. No judgement, I got shrieked at by a teacher when picking up my child last week and just sort of took it. I like to think I’m not that person who would take it but I couldn’t think.

I don’t think any of us are sharp at the moment. The only time I feel totally on top of things is when I am at work (nurse). Otherwise I feel slightly wrongfooted/on egg shells all the time.

There’s no excuse for being shouted at though. I’ve managed to work and not shout at anyone this entire time.

[Blahblahidontcare]

World's gone mad! I got yelled at by Asda staff for not following the arrows, because I forgot something so went backwards. Like what am I supposed to do, do a lap round the whole store to get the the place I forgot?

[heartsonacake]

Instead we are all meekly doing things because we are told to.

AnneBullen Of course we are. If a staff member tells you to do a reasonable action (like follow the arrows, keep 2m away etc.) you do said reasonable action or you don’t shop there because you don’t like/agree/want to follow the rules.

[JumpingAtJackdaws]

Why didn't you say, "Yes, the sign says 2 people at a time, so what's the problem?" Always challenge idiots like that.

[AnneBullen]

It’s not reasonable to make someone walk around the entire store, when it’s empty, and squeeze past someone on the way when they could take three steps across an empty space instead. It’s farcical and nonsensical and well as actually more risky. What could possibly be the justification? Why have we so willingly given up our right to think critically and pragmatically about how to achieve walking to a till?

[JumpingAtJackdaws]

Having said that, I was in Hobbycraft yesterday and the arrows on the floor were all over the place with no rhyme or reason. It was bonkers. I did wonder if someone was playing a joke.

[justanotherneighinparadise]

Yes! Can’t fucking stand it. People are now so incredibly rude so I basically don’t go out.

[CalliopeMeansMusic]

I have nothing but admiration for those who have been working on the frontline through this; I have family members in healthcare and in retail and I could never do their jobs at the best of times, let alone now!

This is what’s annoying me in hindsight; I’m usually pretty assertive and able to stick up for myself, but I’m just feeling totally beaten down to be honest. I’d just braved the supermarket (nightmare of its own) and my MH is shot to pieces. It was either comply and get out as fast as possible or burst into tears in the middle of a petrol station 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ Pathetic I know!

[AnneBullen]

The arrows in our Aldi are also unfollowable. You follow them and then on the last aisle you are walking against them. Everyone in there seems to be of the “fuck it” variety and give no shits now (I’m the same) but you do get the occasional person in there in full PPE, clearly very nervous and losing it. It’s all just a head fuck.

[NotIncandescentWithRage]

@longwayoff

Stop it. You're not as special as you think you are, at least not to those poor staff who deal with people like you all day, all week, putting themselves at risk of infection.It's very simple. Do as you're asked to do.

[LivingThatLockdownLife]

Some people have gone mad through fear or just because they were controlling lunatics to start with.

Our post office guy has turned nuts. Even when you follow the arrows system he still shouts at everyone to micromanage their exact path of travel.

[Colom]

While many people are doing a great job under considerable pressure there's always going to be a few many dickheads who use it as an excuse to wield their "power". YANBU OP.

[whatthefuckamigoingtodo]

I would be the same OP and I am feeling the same as you. I'm too nervous to go to shops and am spending a fortune in deliveries for everything I need

[FreeKitties]

People have gone absolutely barmy, my MIL was in the doctors yesterday, she finished her appointment and whilst she was in there asked if she could pick up a prescription on my behalf - she was told no ALL prescription enquires were being dealt with by telephone, mil said so I go outside and ring you from my mobile you will tell me if the prescription has been sent , but you won’t tell me now ? And yes the receptionist made her go outside and ring - and the very same receptionist answered the phone ! Completely over the top and unnecessary.

[AhhCorona]

People are scared beyond common sense. I've been shouted at in the supermarket by an assistant who has known me for at least ten years for being ten cms (one shoe over) the line. Her mental health must be in pieces. Being so scared every minute of her shift that she couldn't just say ' Hello Ahh, hang back a minute'.
I found it very upsetting, that I'd upset her and that was the world we are living in.

[AJPTaylor]

Our local post office is well known for a thousand ways to be unhelpful with a thousand yard stare thrown in. It's situated in our local small supermarket. Now people have to go in, negotiate around the entire store at the pace of the slowest then finally join the one queue for shop and post office. When finally getting there they then face questions as to whether their business is worthy of their attention during a national emergency. It's quite entertaining for the rest of the queue. I have only braved it once, to post my elderly Mum some food supplies she can't get from her local Spar. Asked what was in the parcel, told them tea bags and the like and they hurumphed and said I should have used a food delivery service. Having established that there was no actual reason I should not use their service for its intended purpose, they accepted my money without grace.

[TrickorTreacle]

@longwayoff

Stop it. You're not as special as you think you are, at least not to those poor staff who deal with people like you all day, all week, putting themselves at risk of infection.It's very simple. Do as you're asked to do.

...

[justanotherneighinparadise]

I wish I could relay to you the experience I had at a local farm shop but it’s too outing. Safe to say there was me and one other person in the shop and yet I was sent to stand behind one line, then I had to reverse behind a second line, then not content with that I had to reverse again around a corner to stand behind a third line. If it wasn’t for the fact that I was desperate for one item of the three things I tried to purchase I’d have just left the shop. It was completely bonkers.

[RB68]

If they bark or shout tell them to stop producing too many aerosols and stick to a normal tone - people are pissing me off with all this control now - and ridiculous requirements that are nothing to do with keeping the virus at bay and more about dealing with fear of something they fail to understand

[Mnthrowaway20202]

I think your anxiety has made you overthink and perhaps exaggerate the situation.

I’ve never had anyone be rude to me, but if they were I’d just put it down as them being scared/anxious themselves and not a reflection on me (unless I was in the wrong).

I know certain petrol stations like Shell have apps where you can directly pay for the fuel in app. Not sure about supermarkets, but some may offer pay at pump? So in the future you won’t need to enter the shop.